Moyano urges gov't to 'pay attention' after general strike

Left-wing picketers and Gendarmerie forces clashed this morning in the Panamericana highway.

CGT Azopardo leader Hugo Moyano has called on the government to take note of a strong movilisation across Argentina, after unions affiliated to the Teamsters figure and gastronomic heavyweight Luis Barrionuevo caused widespread disruption in the City and across the country.

Speaking in the afternoon after work stoppages and roadblocks ground activity to a halt in the Capital, Moyano praised the high level of adherence to industrial measures.

"[The strike] occurred with massive observance. In many cases it was over 90, 95 and 98 percent in some places. It has been a very, very important day," the unionist underlined.

"We are interpreting what the people want expressed and that is clear, the anger people have, the disenchantment, due to the lack of answers from the national government."

"We are humbly asking the government to pay attention to what the people have expressed through this type of measure. Mrs President, pay attention to the people's message, leave pride, attitude and mistreatment to one side," Moyano further fired.

According to CGT labour confederation leader Juan Carlos Schmidt more than 1 million workers joined the general strike launched by anti-government unions, "paralyzing" activities across the country.

“First data show a strong strike turnout,” Schmidt said during a press conference held earlier today, and affirmed pickets blocking main road access to Buenos Aires City have been called by “sectors” that are not part of the unions that launched today’s walkout.

Schmidt, head of the CGT’s dredging and buoy-laying union, pointed out that “more than 1 million workers have paralyzed activities” across the country and urged the federal government to show a “real” dialogue position to address workers’ demands.

The general strike halted public transportation among other key services across the country.

Meanwhile, left-wing organizations set up pickets on the main access roads to Buenos Aires City.

The Panamericana picket was only one of the more than 40 protests carried out by leftist groups. A gendarme resulted injured during clashes between protesters and the military police at the Panamericana highway.

The Oeste highway, the Pueyrredón Bridge, the Pompeya Bridge as wells as the Houssay Square in BA City were also hit by pickets and protests.

The walkout led by anti-Kirchnerites union leaders Hugo Moyano (CGT) and Luis Barrionuevo (CGT) and backed by CTA’s Pablo Micheli, affected all train, bus and tubes services in the Argentine capital city.